What to know about the two candidates for governor in New Jersey

Published October 30, 2025 6:00am ET



As term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) leaves his spot at the helm of New Jersey this year, his eyes will be on Garden State next week as it is one of just two states with off-year gubernatorial elections.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) and Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli will face off on Tuesday, as Sherrill fights to translate her polling lead into voting results and as Ciattarelli hopes to flip the executive from blue back to red. Though Sherrill has maintained a lead in most of the polling, Ciattarelli has gained significant traction over the course of the race, even tying Sherrill in one Emerson College poll from September, and has turned Election Day into a serious competition.

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